ARMY RESERVE COMPETITIVE PROGRAMS

U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Tristan Abuyen, a survey team member with the 773rd Civil Support Team, 7th Mission Support Command, checks oxygen levels on self-contained breathing apparatuses with her Moroccan counterparts from the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR,) Salvage and Rescue Unit, ahead of a CBRN demonstration at the Port of Agadir, Morocco, Jun. 9, 2023, part of African Lion. Abuyen provided classroom instruction on HAZMAT sampling procedures and integrated into a joint survey team, comprised of herself and two FAR team members. “My favorite part about working with our partner CBRN forces was the motivation and passion they had,” said Abuyen. “This exercise allowed me to see the bigger picture – of how we would fit into their organization if called to respond to a HAZMAT or weapons of mass destruction event.” The 773rd is a technical HAZMAT reaction team, the only one of its kind in the U.S. Army Europe - Africa theater. Exercises such as African Lion provide opportunities for this specialized Army Reserve unit to assess, develop, and train alongside Allies and partners, getting the repetitions needed to fight and win together, on the modern-day battlefield. 18 nations and approximately 8,000 personnel will participate in African Lion 2023, U.S. Africa Command's largest annual combined, joint exercise that will take place in multiple countries to include Morocco from May 13 - June 18, 2023.